After another punishing defeat, legendary boxing promoter Frank Warren has urged heavyweight Joe Joyce to seriously consider retiring for the sake of his long-term health. The 39-year-old suffered a unanimous decision loss to Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic in Manchester on Saturday night, absorbing heavy punishment over 12 grueling rounds.
Despite showing trademark grit and durability, concerns are growing over the physical toll Joyce’s fighting style has taken — especially following earlier defeats to Zhilei Zhang and Derek Chisora. Warren, who previously guided Joyce to major wins over Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, voiced his concerns: “Joe needs to sit down with his family and have a real serious think about the future. He’s a lovely man and I just want the best for him now.”
Joyce, however, appears unwilling to step away just yet, hinting at a possible future bout with Dillian Whyte and stating: “I am still enjoying what I am doing and I feel good.”
But former British champion Paul Smith didn’t hold back in his plea: “I hope I never see Joe Joyce in a boxing ring again. This is an unforgiving sport and it’s his health we are all worried about.”
As one of boxing’s most resilient warriors, Joyce’s future now hangs in the balance — torn between passion for the sport and the growing risks that come with each brutal bout.
